Two teams who failed to earn a direct entry into Euro 2024 close out the year with a friendly on Tuesday, as Poland host Latvia at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw.
Michal Probierz's men finished third in Group E to condemn themselves to a spot in the playoffs, while their visitors ended Group D in last place with only three points to their name.
Match preview
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Not since 2004 have Poland been forced to watch a European Championships from home - posting group-stage finishes in 2008, 2012 and 2020 either side of a run to the quarter-finals in 2016 - but the Eagles still have plenty of work to do to punch their ticket to the finals.
On the back of progressing to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup, Group E appeared to be there for the taking for Poland, but eight games and two managers later, Tuesday's hosts fell to Albania and the Czech Republic's superiority in the section.
A pair of home clashes with Moldova and the Czech Republic offered Poland a prime opportunity to sneak into the top two, but Probierz's men were held to 1-1 draws in both contests to finish one point behind the latter in third spot, although they now have the playoffs to fall back on.
Unless Croatia and Italy fail to qualify directly, Poland will enter Path A of the playoffs as the highest-ranked team, but the Eagles should be grateful to have a rest from competitive action this week, having only picked up two wins over the Faroe Islands in their last six Euros qualifiers.
The hosts have only taken part in one friendly this year so far, but it was a worthwhile venture as they overcame Euro 2024 hosts Germany 1-0 under the wing of Fernando Santos, extending their unbeaten run in exhibition matches to seven games since losing to the Czechs in 2018.
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Poland's qualifying campaign may not be done and dusted just yet, but Latvia have been left to reflect on another forgettable preliminary campaign, having taken to the field eight times in Group D and emerging on the losing side in seven of them.
A 2-0 home beating of Armenia is all that the 11 Wolves have had to shout about over the past several months, and they followed up that sole win with back-to-back losses to Turkey and Croatia, succumbing to strikes from Lovro Majer and Andrej Kramaric against the latter on Saturday.
While Poland's most recent absence from the Euros came in 2004, Latvia coincidentally competed in their only major tournament to date 19 years ago, but a swift group-stage exit - where they failed to pick up a single win - has now preceded five failed attempts to return to the big time.
Not even promotion to Nations League C could save Latvia, as the potential playoff spot reserved for the best-ranked League D team will go to Estonia, and the rebuild for 2024 begins now for head coach Dainis Kazakevics and co.
Latvia did manage to get the better of Poland in a Euro 2004 qualifier en route to the tournament, but the 11 Wolves have since lost four in a row against the Eagles without finding the back of the net once, most recently being trounced 3-0 in 2019 courtesy of a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick.
Team News
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As well as losing Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash to injury before taking on the Czech Republic, Poland witnessed another defender in Heerenveen's Pawel Bochniewicz leave the field after 58 minutes on Friday, having displayed symptoms of sciatica.
The Polish Football Federation have confirmed that Bochniweicz will be sent back to his club to begin his rehabilitation, leaving Probierz with one fewer defender to call upon for Tuesday's game; Mateusz Wieteska and Patryk Peda are the only alternatives in the heart of defence.
Napoli fulcrum Piotr Zielinski was peculiarly left on the bench for the visit of the Czech Republic last week, and with nothing but bragging rights on the line here, it remains to be seen whether the 29-year-old is thrown straight back into the starting XI.
In contrast, Latvia will be boosted by the return of an experienced international for Tuesday's friendly, as midfielder Eduards Emsis - who plies his trade in Norway with Raufoss - is eligible to return after serving a one-game Euros qualifying ban against the Czech Republic.
Emsis's return could spell trouble for Aleksejs Saveljevs's place in the middle of the park, but Kazakevics should otherwise keep faith with the majority of his starters from the loss to Croatia, as Cambuur's Roberts Uldrikis spearheads the charge.
Poland possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Bednarek, Peda, Wieteska; Frankowski, Zielinski, Piotrowski, S. Szymanski, Zalewski; Lewandowski, Buksa
Latvia possible starting lineup:
Ozols; Savalnieks, Cernomordijs, Balodis, Ciganiks; Tobers, Emsis; Zelenkovs, J. Ikaunieks, Daskevics; Uldrikis
We say: Poland 3-0 Latvia
Amid two managerial alterations, Poland's on-field activities have left something to be desired in 2023, but the Eagles will surely close out a challenging year on a high note.
Barring one success over Armenia, performances and goals have been hard to come by for Latvia in recent months, and even if Probierz does shuffle his resources, Poland should emerge triumphant in routine fashion.
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Ben Knapton
